Raw stocked kitchens

[vegggeeemom]

I see so many of you on here have raw stocked kitchens with plenty of nuts, fruits, veggies to try out new recipes when one is posted and go off and make it.

How do you do that?

When I want to try a new recipe, I have to go to the store for MOST of the stuff.

Where are you getting the nuts that you can stock up that much at once?!

I'm talking like 4 cups of a few differents nuts for one recipe and people have that just in their kitchen.

I just would like some tips I guess on how to have my kitchen more raw friendly and more readily prepared for such cases as trying out a new recipe.

Thanks and ideas and thoughts appreciated!

Pam

[shelah]

hi pam!
i keep a pretty good stock of nuts, seeds, carob, agave and dried herbs and spices. the key for the nuts and seeds is FREEZER SPACE! :D
i order mine from sunorganics and so it pays to stock up to make full use of shipping costs.
also, some sites -- like rawguru -- ship free for larger orders, so again, it pays to stock up on agave, carob and those incredible peruvian olives!
i also keep plenty of frozen fruit in the freezer (i have an extra one in my garage), so the only things i run off to the store for, and often, are fresh fruits and veggies.
hope this is useful.
many blessings!
shelah

[Rawkinlocs]

Pam you're so cute! :D

Well, one thing you can do is find a store in your area that sells nuts in bulk...my local co-op does this, but I also found them in stores like Fred Meyer and Top Foods...not sure if you have either of those in Idaho or not, though.

But check around to see who sells raw nuts/seeds in bulk. Then, maybe every week, get a half to one pound of nuts just to stock up. I also get "some" nuts from Costco like their pine nuts and pecans. I think I paid around $10 for a (I "think" it's 2 lb.) bag of pecans...something like that...it was more than a pound though and my co-op sells pecans for close to $10 a pound! They (Costco) also carry walnuts and almonds (though there was some controversy about the almonds being pasturized or something - so I just get those from the co-op but HAVE gotten them from Costco before)

It's really a matter of retraining your thinking. I mean, when I buy nuts and they're a little costly...I think to myself, "Now when I was eating SAD, I'd oftentimes pay a lot for meat"...so the nuts are like "replacing" the meat!

Once you get most or all of your household eating raw, you will find that it's much easier to keep things on hand and well-stocked. Also, sometimes I plan for one (or maybe two, depending) "expensive trips" to the store(s) a month where I stock up on all my condiments, nuts, seeds...stuff that won't perish right away. Then, later in the month I do "lighter spending" on just my perishables like my produce.

You just kinda have to budget for the "expensive shopping trip" days and because your husband made the decision he did, it's going to be much easier for you now because you're not having to buy "your" raw stuff AND their non-raw stuff. Now you'll be buying MOSTLY raw stuff and a few non-raw things (since he wants to start off with the HACRES first) but most of your shopping will be for raw stuff. I find that it's more costly (or seemingly so) when you have to buy SAD stuff for your family and raw stuff for yourself...but that is no longer going to be the case with your family so you will learn to retrain your thinking when you shop and it's going to become second-nature to you!

[rawpriestess]

It takes time and money.

I have been blessed by the Goddess with both.

So, the most important thing I think you can do is to buy what ever you need in bulk, and then keep it handy,

I keep all my nuts in the freezer and my seeds too, we grow much of our produce but in the winter, we buy it in bulk from Costco. or the farmer's market.

we also grow our own herbs, and buy spices in bulk.

I usually have about 3 to 5 pounds of each nut or seed I might need on hand.

there is hardly any recipe in any uncook book that I can't make when I find it, I like to keep my options open.

I also make alot of Alissa's food and keep it frozen, so I always have something to pop into the dehydrator

pesto stuffed mushrooms
pizza wraps
onion bread
corn chips
burgers
raviolies
chicken fingers
falafel
pecan burgers
meatloaf
stuffed veggies
ice cream
mousse
puddings
cakes
pies
truffles
fudge
chocolate cookies
ice cream sandwiches
pizza crusts
breads and crackers
etc.

I always keep these in the fridge, in addition to produce
cashew sour cream
almond milk (lots)
chocolate mousse
pudding
salsa
bar-b-que sauce
marinara sauce
pico de gallo
guacamole (Dragggon likes it, I don't)
cashew cream cheese
and usually a veggie soup base of some kind

[veganman]

Does Costco have raw organic nuts and organic produce?

[robertandenith]

Once you get most or all of your household eating raw, you will find that it's much easier to keep things on hand and well-stocked. Also, sometimes I plan for one (or maybe two, depending) "expensive trips" to the store(s) a month where I stock up on all my condiments, nuts, seeds...stuff that won't perish right away. Then, later in the month I do "lighter spending" on just my perishables like my produce.


I second this! I get all my goodies on hand because everyone now is eating raw, even my non-raw girly now is eating 75% raw.

I too put my nuts and seeds in the freezer. Also when I dry my tomatoes and make nut crusts I put them in the freezer. I also make pesto sauces, dressings, spinach sauce, etc. in bulk and store them in freezer for later use.

I just stocked myself with grains to do lots of essene breads and stock myself of breads.

Also for produce, I normally have a lot of these a week (since all my family is raw) I try to get a good variety of veggies and fruits every time I go shopping. I put potatoes, bananas, tomatoes, avocados, onions, garlic and the oranges in the counter in baskets, the rest like melons, cantaloupes, carrots, leafy greens, apples, pear, mangoes, lemons I store them in the fridge. Leafy greens are in tupeware containers to keep them organize. I will have to take a pic of my fridge soon so you can see how is everything organized! :p :D

[Joyful Mary]

Rawpriestess,

How long will most of these items last in the fridge?